Clasp



Jan. 23, 1968 1. s. DE WOSKIN CLASP Filed Aug. 11, 1965 F I63. F164.

FIGS.

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United States Patent Ofiiice 3,364,534 Patented Jan. 23, 1968 3,364,534 CLASP Irvin S. DeWoskin, 1000 Washington Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63101 Filed Aug. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 478,974 8 Claims. (Cl. 24-245) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A clasp of flexible material has a hinge line intermediate its ends so that end portions of the clasp can be placed in back-toback relation by folding along the hinge line. Slots near the hinge line register with each other when the clasp is folded for receiving a supporter or the like. A flexible tongue at one end of the clasphas a button hinged thereto at its free end, the button normally being perpendicular to the plane of the tongue. A flat stem at the other end of the clasp has an elongate opening therein. The opening has a first end portion wider than the button, a smaller second end portion narrower than the button, and a third ortion between the end portions which is narrower than both the end portions of the opening and only slightly wider than the width of the tongue adjacent the button. The button is inserted into the larger end portion of the opening and the portion of the tongue adjacent the button is then moved endwise through the third portion of the opening into the second portion of the opening. Ears project sidewise from the tongue adjacent but spaced from the button. The ears engage the back face of the stem and limit movement of the button away from the front face of the stern.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a clasp for apparel or the like made of plastic (or other flexible material) having its parts arranged so that it is virtually impossible to inadvertently release interlocking portions of the clasp; the provision of such a clasp which is easily manipulated for interlocking and releasing its parts; the provision of a garment clasp such as described adapted to be worn under an outer garment and which is relatively fiat and unobtrusive when so worn; and the provision of a clasp construction which may be made in one piece when manufactured for use with a hose supporter or the like and which may be manufactured in two pieces for attaching together the ends of garments or the like. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings. in which several of various possible embodiments of the invention are illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a View showing a blank used of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation of the left side of the FIG. 1 clasp;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are vertical sections showing steps in interlocking parts of the clasp;

FIG. 5 is a side or edge elevation of the clasp with parts interlocked;

FIG. 6 is a view of the front of the clasp in its FIG. 5 position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a view showing another form of a clasp of this invention.

Corresponding reference characters to form a clasp indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawlugs.

Referring now to the drawings, a clasp made in accordance with this invention is shown in FIGS. 1-7 to comprise an elongate flat flexible body 1 which has one face 3 which constitutes its forward face and another face 5 which constitutes its back face. At the central portion of the clasp there are two head portions designated 7 and 7a which are integrally hinged together on a hinge line 9. The clasp may be conveniently molded of plastic material in one piece, and the hinge line 9 may be formed by a groove or score line in the forward face 3 01 the body.

Head portions 7 and 7a have slots 11 and 11a, respectively, which are located in the head portions so that they may be placed in register with each other by bending the clasp along the hinge line 9 to place the head portions in back-to-back relation. Slots 11 and 11a provide means for attachment of the clasp to a supporter such as illustrated in phantom at 13 in FIGS. 3-6. Slots 11 and 11a are preferably joined by a slot 1S to provide means for conveniently passing the supporter 113 into the slots 11 and 11a.

There is an elongate flexible tongue 17 integral with the head portion 7a and extending lengthwise of the clasp from the side of head portion 7a opposite from the head portion 7. Tongue 17 has a plurality of spaced hinge lines 19(1-1942 transverse to the length of the clasp for enhancing the flexibility of the tongue. Hinge 19a joins the tongue 1'7 to the head portion 7a and the hinge 19a joins the tongue to an integrally formed circular button 21. Button 21 is molded in a plane transverse to the plane of tongue 17 and projects outwardly beyond the side edges of the tongue. The button is connected at its midpoint to the free end of the tongue and normally lies in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the tongue as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Hinges 1911-198 may be formed by score lines or grooves in the forward face 3 of the body in the same manner as the hinge 9 previously described.

Projecting outwardly from opposite sides of tongue 17 are two ears 23 which are adjacent but spaced slightly from the button 21. Bars 23 are located. between hinge lines 19d and l ke and the distance between the outer ends of the ears is slightly less than the diameter of button 21. Ears 23 provide means for limiting movement of the tongue when the clasp parts are gripping hosiery or the like.

There is an elongate fiat stem 25 extending lengthwise of the clasp from the side of the head portion 7 opposite from its connection to the head portion 7a. Stem 25 has an elongate buttonhole or opening 27 which extends lengthwise of the clasp from the head portion 7 to substantially the other end of the stem. The end of opening 27 adjacent head 7 is designated 27a and is generally in the shape of a teardrop. This portion 27a of the opening is slightly larger than the button 21 so that the button may be conveniently passed through it with the plane of the button parallel to the plane of stem 25 as explained later. At the other end of opening 27 there is a smaller portion designated 27b (FIGS. l and 7) which is narrower than the diameter of button 21 but wider than the tongue 17. Opening 27 narrows between the portions 27a and 27b of the opening to provide a neck portion generally designated 27c. Neck 270 is narrower than the diameter of button 21 and is slightly wider than the width of the portion of the tongue 17 between button 21 and ears 23. The width of neck 270 is such that the portion of tongue 17 between button 21 and cars 23 can just pass through the neck when it is surrounded by a thickness of hosiery. The neck portion 270 is formed by rounded projections 29 projecting inwardly into opening 27 from opposite sides of the opening. Between the neck portion 3 270 and the teardrop shape portion 27a of the opening there is a wide slot 27d which is narrower than the diameter of button 21 and the distance between the outer ends of ears 23 but is wider than neck 27c.

As herein illustrated, the clasp is formed from plastic material. It is preferred that the body 1, tongue 17, button 21 and stem 25 may be integrally molded in one piece as by injection molding. It is preferred that the plastic material be polypropylene, and that the hinges at 9 and 19a- 19e be formed by scores or grooves in the polypropylene. It has been found that polypropylene has the characteristic of being flexible at an integral hinge formed by such scoring or grooving and, at the same time, being remarkably strong even though very thin at such a hinge. It even appears that the strength increases with repeated flexing at the hinge.

In using the clasp, the tongue 17 and stem 25 of the clasp are bent along hinge line 9- until they are in back to-back relation. They are then placed over the top of a stocking S (FIGS. 3 and 5), for example, with the tongue and stem straddling the top of the stocking. Tongue "i7 is then bent into an are as shown in FIG. 3 to place the button 21 in register with the portion 27a of opening 27 in stem 25. Button 21 is then in a plane generally parallel to stem 25 and a portion of stocking S is stretched across opening 27 at the back of stem 25. Button 21 is then pushed through opening portion 27a forcing a portion of the stocking through the buttonhole with it. Next the button is moved downwardly generally to its FIG. 4 position with the portion of the tongue 17 between the ears 23 and button 21 passing through the portion 27d of the opening. Since the opening portion 27d is narrower than the diameter of button 21 and the spacing between the outer edges of ears 23, this downward movement of button 21 is generally in a plane parallel to the surface 3 of the clasp.

Next, the portion of tongue 1'] between button 21 and ears 23 is forced through the neck portion 27c of the buttonhole into the lower end portion 27b of the opening. Due to the close fit between the neck portion 270 of stem 25 and the portion of tongue 17 between button 21 and ears 23, this movement requires the application of a positive force. Inadvertent removal of the stocking from the button is prevented since opening 27b is smaller than the button 21 and the button is held close to the front face 3 of the clasp by ears 23 located along the back face of the clasp, the distance between the ears being greater than the width of opening 27b. This holds a portion of the stocking tight around the button 21. Inadvertent removal of the stocking from the clasp by lifting of the button 21 and passing it through portion 27a of the opening is virtually impossible due to the tight fit between the projections 29 bounding neck 27c and the portion of the tongue between button 21 and ears 23. The button 21 and cars 23 located along opposite faces of the clasp prevent any substantial movement of tongue 17 in a direction transverse to the plane of stem 25.

To release the stocking S, the manipulation of the parts of the clasp is reversed. This is accomplished by moving the button 21 upwardly (or stem 25 downwardly) until the button is in line with the portion 27a of the opening in the stem. Then the button is moved to its FIG. 3 position where the stocking is released.

FIG. 8 shows a modification wherein the clasp is adapted for connecting the ends of a strap or straps designated 33a, 33b. The strap ends being connected may be the ends of the back straps on a brassiere, for example. In this form of the invention the clasp is manufactured in two parts and includes a head 7c shown attached to end 330 of the strap by a line of stitching 35. A completely separate head 7d is attached to strap end 331) by a line of stitching 37. It will be understood that the heads 70, 7d could be attached to strap ends 33a, 33]) by other means, such as passing the strap ends through slots in the heads in a manner similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-7 and then overlapping and stitching portions of each strap end together. In other respects, the clasp of FIG. 8 is the same as that previously described and the same reference characters have been used to designate the parts.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. An elongate clasp formed of flexible material and having a hinge line extending transversely of the clasp intermediate its ends, the clasp being folded on said hinge line so that end portions of the clasp lie in back-to-back relation when the clasp is in the folded condition, the clasp having transverse slots therein which register when the clasp is in the folded condition for recpetion of a supporter, an elongate flexible tongue extending lengthwise of the clasp at one end portion of the clasp, said tongue having a button hinged thereto on a hinge line extending transversely of the tongue at its free end, the button being generally flat and circular and being hingedly connected at its midpoint to the free end of the tongue so as to extend thereacross and normally lie in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the tongue, an elongate flat stem extending lengthwise of the clasp from the other end of the clasp, said stern having an elongate opening therein extending lengthwise of the clasp, said opening having a first end portion which is wider than said button and having a smaller second end portion which is narrower than said button and wider than the tongue adjacent the button, said opening having a third portion between said end portions which is narrower than the end portions of the opening and only slightly wider than the width of the tongue adjacent the button, the tongue being adapted for bending for insertion of the button endwise through the first end portion of the opening in said stem with the button in a plane parallel to the plane of the stem, and said flexible tongue being adapted for forced movement through the third portion of said opening into the second end portion of said opening, the button being flat against the front of said stem after it has entered the second end portion of the opening whereby movement of the button back through the opening is precluded until the tongue is again forced through the third portion of the opening into the first end portion of the opening, and the clasp having means for engaging the back face of the stem for limiting movement of the button away from the front face of the stem when the tongue is in the second end portion of the opening, the means for limiting movement of the button away from the front face of the stem comprising a pair of aligned oppositely extending extensions projecting sidewise from the tongue closely adjacent but spaced from said button, and the distance between the outer ends of the extensions being greater than the width of the second end portion of the opening.

2. A clasp as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tongue has a plurality of spaced hinge lines extending transverse across the tongue, the tongue being flexible at the hinge lines for passing the button through the opening.

3. A one-piece clasp formed of plastic material and comprising first and second flat heads integrally hinged together along a hinge line extending transversely of the clasp, said heads being folded on said hinge line so that the heads normally lie in back-to-back relation when the clasp is in the folded condition, each of said heads having a transverse slot therein, said slots registering in the folded condition of the clasp for reception of a supporter, the first head having an elongate flexible tongue integral therewith extending lengthwise of the clasp, said tongue having a button integrally hinged thereto on a hinge line extending transversely of the tongue at its free end, the button being of generally flat circular configuration and being hingedly connected at its midpoint to the free end of the tongue so as to extend thereacross and normally lie in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the tongue, the second head having an elongate flat stern integral therewith extending lengthwise of the clasp, said stem having an elongate opening therein extending lengthwise of the clasp, said opening having a first portion at its end adjacent said second head which is wider than said button and having a smaller second portion at its end away from the second head which is narrower than said button and Wider than the tongue adjacent the button, said opening having a third portion between said first and second portions which is narrower than the first and second portions of the opening and only slightly wider than the width of the tongue adjacent the button, the button being adapted for bending on the hinge lines on the tongue for insertion endwise through the first portion of the opening in said stem with the button in a plane parallel to the plane of the stem, and said flexible tongue being adapted for forced movement through the third portion of said opening into the second portion of said opening, means for limiting movement of the button away from the front face of the stern comprising a pair of aligned oppositely extending ears projecting sidewise from the tongue closely adjacent but spaced from said button, the distance between the outer ends of the ears being greater than the width of the second end portion of the opening and slightly less than the diameter of the button, the button being fiat against the front of said stem after it has entered the second portion of the opening whereby movement of the button back through the opening is precluded until the tongue is again forced through the third portion of the opening into the first portion of the opening.

4. A clasp as set forth in claim 3 wherein the tongue has a plurality of spaced hinge lines extending transversely across the tongue, the tongue being flexible at the hinge lines for passing the button through the hole.

5. A clasp formed of flexible material, the clasp having two parts with each part having a head portion adapted for attachment to a garment or the like, an elongate flexible tongue projecting from the head portion of one part of the clasp, said tongue having a button hinged thereto on a hinge line extending transversely of the tongue at its free end, the button being of generally flat circular configuration and being hingedly connected at its midpoint to the free end of the tongue so as to extend thereacross and normally lie in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the tongue, an elongate fiat stem projecting from the head portion of the other part of the clasp, said stem having an elongate opening therein extending lengthwise of the stem, said opening having a first end portion which is wider than said button and having a smaller second end portion which is narrower than said button and wider than the tongue adjacent the button, said opening having a third portion between said end portions which is narrower than the end portions of the opening and only slightly wider than the width of the tongue adjacent the button, the tongue being adapted for bending for insertion of the button endwise through the first end portion of the opening in said stem with the button in a plane parallel to the plane of the stem, and said flexible tongue being adapted for forced movement through the third portion of said opening into the second end portion of said opening, the button. being flat against one face of the stem after it has entered the second end portion of the opening whereby movement of the button back through the opening is precluded until the tongue is again forced through the third portion of the opening into the first end portion of the opening, and the clasp having means for engaging the other face of the stern for limiting movement of the button away from the one face of the stem when the tongue is in the second end portion of the opening, aid limiting means comprising a pair of aligned oppositely extending ears projecting sidewise from the tongue closely adjacent but spaced from said button, the distance between the outer ends of the ears being greater than the Width of the second end portion of the opening and slightly less than the diameter of the button.

6. A clasp as set forth in claim 5 wherein the tongue is narrower than the head portion of said one part of the clasp and has a plurality of spaced hinge lines extending transversely across it.

7. A clasp as set forth in claim 5 wherein the head portions of the clasp parts are integrally joined along a hinge line.

8. A clasp as set forth in claim 5 wherein the head portions of the clasp parts are separate from each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 413,772 10/1889 Arnold 24-247 824,332 6/1906 Barnum 24-246 1,045,174 11/1912 Perrine 2473 1,248,804 12/1917 Butts 24-245 2,127,666 8/1938 Parker 24-245 2,843,909 7/"1958 Eilertsen 24-245 3,224,063 12/1965 Jonas 24-245 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,336,841 7/1963 France. 1,062,191 7/ 1959 Germany.

966,658 3/ 1950 France.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner. 

